If you're like most homeowners, once you've made that decision to list your home, you want it to sell as soon as possible. After all, few people enjoy having people view their home or living with uncertainty for very long. Fortunately, there are a number of affordable things you can do to help sell your home more quickly . . . and allow you to begin that new chapter of your life.

1. Declutter your closets. You've probably heard the good advice to declutter your living spaces so that homebuyers can envision their own possessions (rather than yours) in your living spaces. However, the same logic applies to closets. Most potential buyers want to know that your home will have enough storage space for their extra belongings. This is easier to imagine when there is empty space in your closets, and they aren't bulging with coats, sporting gear and holiday decorations.

2. Increase your lighting. Good lighting can also help to sell your home more quickly and allow potential buyers to notice all parts of your home. While "mood" lighting may be charming for a romantic evening or a dinner party, you'll want maximum light when you show your home. Achieve this by upping the wattage of your light bulbs, adding extra lamps and making sure that all of the available lighting sources are turned on.

3. Don't ignore curb appeal. Making a good first impression is essential when you are trying to sell your home. If your home isn't inviting from the outside, there's a good chance that potential buyers may never even make an appointment to see the inside. Make your home's exterior appealing by adding a new coat of paint to your front door, investing in a few colorful annual plants (and keeping them well watered), trimming your bushes and keeping up with your yard maintenance. Look at other homes for sale in your area to get an idea of what local buyers will be expecting.

4. Depersonalize your home. That cranberry living room wall may be your favorite thing about your home, but it's not going to mesh with everyone's design style and possessions. It's best to re-paint and replace any dramatic individual elements so that potential buyers will be better able to see themselves and their furnishings in your space.

Selling your home doesn't have to be a long, laborious task. Help sell your home more quickly by decluttering (even your closets), making sure that your rooms are well lit and adding some color to your exterior to improve your curb appeal.